Foldable Display Rail Guide for Outfolding Hinge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable smart phones with outfolding display structures face issues during folding due to pulling forces from depth differences between inner and outer housing shells, and insufficient support at the display's center, which can damage the flexible display.
Innovation Solution
A foldable display device with a hinge system that includes housing shells, support plates, and display rails, where the display unit is slidably engaged with rail grooves, allowing it to move relative to the housing shells and preventing damage from depth differences, and a torsion module that supports the display unit during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hinge is rotated between unfolded and outfolding positions, then the display unit can move relative to the housing shells to avoid pulling forces, but the display unit may still experience compressing forces due to depth differences
Solution Approach 1:
A cushioning member is introduced as an intermediary element between the display unit and the housing shell. This cushioning member absorbs and distributes the compressing forces generated during hinge rotation, preventing direct transmission of harmful forces to the display unit while allowing the display unit to maintain its protective relative movement capability.
2Reliability
If the display unit is fixed to the hinge, then the display unit remains stable during rotation, but the display unit cannot move relative to the housing shells to prevent damage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the display unit and hinge is transformed from a fixed static connection to a dynamic connection that allows controlled relative movement. The display unit is secured to the hinge at a center portion but can move along rail grooves, enabling the system to adapt dynamically to depth differences during rotation while maintaining overall stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit's movement capability is extended from a single rotational degree of freedom to include linear movement along the rail grooves. This additional dimensional freedom allows the display unit to compensate for depth differences between housing shells during hinge rotation, preventing pulling forces while maintaining stability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the display unit is allowed to move along rail grooves, then pulling forces are prevented, but the display unit may become unstable during hinge rotation
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the display unit have different connection characteristics: the center portion is securely fixed to the hinge to maintain stability, while the peripheral portion can move along the rail grooves to prevent pulling forces. This localized differentiation of connection quality allows simultaneous achievement of stability and protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable display device includes a hinge, a housing shell unit and a display unit. The housing shell unit includes two housing shells connected with left and right sides of the hinge, two support plates respectively disposed on the housing shells, and a plurality of pairs of display rails defined between the housing shells and the support plates. Each housing shell has a base shell wall connected with the hinge. Each display rail has a rail groove. The display unit is securely disposed to the hinge, and is movably engaged in the rail grooves. The hinge is rotatable between an unfolded position and an outfolding position. During rotation of the hinge, the display unit is moved along the rail grooves.